The Ali business

You may have never heard of CKX Inc., but you know the people they work with.

This week, the company announced that it had acquired an 80% interest in the name and likeness of Ali. No one can dispute that Ali is an icon in world sport. He may be the most recognized person in the world.

Under the deal, CKX Inc., has the rights to the name, image and likeness of Ali, some trademarks owned by Ali and the rights to existing Ali license agreements.

Ali will retain a 20% interest in the business, which will be operated through a newly formed company named G.O.A.T. LLC. GOAT, of course, stands for Greatest of All Time.

Perhaps owning an icon sounds a little creepy. But don't bet against the CKX folks. As the company's PR staff dryly puts it, "this transaction is a continuation of CKX's mission to partner with iconic content and to use its resources to preserve, protect and grow this content."

Still skeptical? Consider the fact that CKX also owns an 85% interest in the entities which own and/or control the commercial utilization of the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, the operation of the Graceland museum and related attractions, as well as revenue derived from Elvis Presley's television specials, films and certain of his recorded musical works.

Elvis, as we all know by now, has left the building, but his name still carries commercial weight.

So where should CKX go next? Michael Jordan? Madonna? Shaq? Let me know whose name and likeness qualifies as a corporate entity.